Chapter IX
Hog's Head
Harry found it very hard to keep quiet in Umbridge's class. Every day it was the same thing: she would give them a reading to do quietly as she stalk the aisles, staring that them with her toad face, waiting for someone to slip up. It was well into October, and Professor Umbridge has just finished collecting their homework, fifteen inches on the proper practice of deciding the proper countercharm to use in a situation. It was awful and Harry did not know how he and Blaise were able to complete it.
Umbridge was looking at their essays as everyone was reading, or in Harry's case doing his best not to read while staying out of Umbridge's radar. "Ms. Greengrass, you seemed to have forgotten how to spell your name." Professor Umbridge's voice echoed throughout the entire classroom. Harry immediately looked up at Umbridge before turning around to stare at Daphnis. He was sitting very still, his hand shaking slightly. He moved his head in a weird matter before looking up at Professor Umbridge, who was staring at him with a vile smile.
"I'm sorry, Professor Umbridge?" he said, "I do not understand."
Professor Umbridge's smile grew. "Understand what, Ms. Greengrass? The issue with your name?"
Daphnis stared at her very awkwardly. Harry could see a cold sweat developing as he glanced around the classroom. Everyone had stopped reading and was now staring at him. Theo and Pansy grabbed his hands while Draco and Blaise turned to give heated looks at Professor Umbridge.
"Are you okay?" Harry whispered, feeling immediately dumb afterward. Of course he wasn't, and the look Theo gave him was obvious. Daphnis shook his head and took a breath, "It had to happen sooner or later," he muttered.
"We're here for you."
"Well, Ms. Greengrass?" Professor Umbridge repeated.
"Professor, can we talk about this in private? Professor Snape should have told you—"
"Yes I remember Professor Snape telling me about some silliness about you being confused about your gender, Ms. Greengrass, and while you may try I am afraid that you are wrong in this count. You are simply a tomboy. Now, Daphne Greengrass, I have been wondering if you have forgotten how to spell your name, Daphne. It is D-A-P-H-N-E. Not D-A-P-H-N-I-S as you have written it down, Daphne Greengrass. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl, if a bit dim—"
"SHUT UP!" Harry screamed, slamming his hands on the table, and standing up so fast his chair fell to the side. "SHUT UP! YOU'RE WRONG!"
Behind him, Daphnis was now more notably shaking, doing his best to stare unemotionally at Professor Umbridge but tears escaped through the cracks. Umbridge, meanwhile, smiled like a toad before a fly feast.
"I do believe that you deserve another detention for tonight, Mr. Potter," she said sweetly. "Perhaps this time the message will sink in. You can share it with Ms. Daphne Greengrass over there, for disrupting my class. Your usual lines, of course, and as for you, Ms. Greengrass, to help you get out of this phase, I have the perfect statement for you: I am a girl."
Daphnis stood up, pulling his hands from Theo and Pansy. He pulled up his bag and threw it over his shoulder, "Harry!" he said and walked out of the classroom, Harry rushing to catch up as the two ignored Umbridge's yells to come back.
Harry was not surprised to see that they were on their way to the potions classroom in the dungeons. Harry offered his hand to Daphnis, who crushed it in his grip. They could hear Professor Snape lecturing behind a door and Daphnis knocked on it hard.
"Enter."
Daphnis pushed the door opened and stomped in, pulling Harry along. They were interrupting a second year class. Snape stared at them for a moment and raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Potter, have you fallen so far in your delusional stardom that you've forgotten your manners?"
"Sir, we need to talk, please," Daphnis said. Harry did not know what made Snape agree, but one look from him to Daphnis and the professor looked at the second years. "What are you all staring at? You have your instructions." The second years suddenly became very busy and Snape looked at Harry and Daphnis, "Follow."
He led them to a door in the back that led to his office. "Why are you two not in Defense?" he asked as soon as the door closed.
"She kept using my wrong name," Daphnis said. "I tried to correct her and ask to talk about it in private, but she just wouldn't. Harry was trying to defend me and she… she outed me in front of everyone and gave us both detention. She was going to make me write 'I am a girl' with her blood quills!"
"When?" Snape asked, looking only at Daphnis.
"Tonight," Daphnis repeated.
"Impossible," Professor Snape said. "Mr. Greengrass, Mr. Potter, you both will be too busy cleaning my cauldrons tonight. I will write to Dolores personally as a reminder."
"What?" Harry gasped. "Sir—"
"Thank you, Professor," Daphnis said.
"You will be cleaning the cauldrons in the common room," Professor Snape said. "Make sure that they are sparkling, Mr. Potter. I would hate to be disappointed just after I started to have a positive opinion of you."
"Yes sir," Harry said shortly.
Daphnis walked out feeling better, letting go of Harry's hand and apologizing for crushing it. Harry shrugged and reassured him that he was happy that he was feeling better. Later that night, the two found themselves in the common room instead of Umbridge's office relaxing when a stained cauldron appeared in front of Harry. There was a note attached to it that read, "Spotless, Potter." "I thought he was kidding!" Harry groaned as Daphnis laughed.
"Get to it Harry, he really does mean spotless," Daphnis said in between his laughs. Harry grumbled as he pulled out his wand, doing his best to remember cleaning spells.
Draco made a sound of disgust the next day as he read through the morning paper. "You have got to be kidding me!" he said, his face scrunching up. He spread the newspaper out so the others could see.
MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED FIRST-EVER "HIGH INQUISITOR"
In a surprise move last night the Ministry of Magic passed new legislation giving itself an unprecedented level of control at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. "The Minister has been growing uneasy about goings-on at Hogwarts for some time," said Junior Assistant to the Ministry, Percy Weasley. "He is now responding to concerns voiced by anxious parents, who feel the school may be moving in a direction they do not approve."
"Huh, so that's why Mrs. Weasley cried whenever his name was mentioned," Harry commented. "He's a moron now."
Draco snickered at that and glanced at the Gryffindor table, "Weasley's following him it looks like."
This is the first time in recent weeks Fudge has used new laws to effect improvements at the Wizarding school. As recently as August 30th Educational Decree Twenty-two was passed, to ensure that, in the event of the current headmaster being unable to provide a candidate for a teaching post, the Ministry should select an appropriate person. "That's how Dolores Umbridge come to be appointed to the teaching staff at Hogwarts," Weasley said last night. "Dumbledore couldn't find anyone, so the Minister put in Umbridge and of course, she's been an immediate success, totally revolutionizing the teaching of Defense Against the Dark Arts and providing the Minister with on-the-ground feedback about what's really happening at Hogwarts."
"Teaching us nothing and reporting to the Ministry about what a bunch of teenagers are doing," Blaise translated. He glanced at Harry and said, "See why our parents want the Ministry gone yet?"
"I'm not arguing, this is horrible," Harry said, frowning deeply. He was quickly wanting to be first in line for the Ministry's destruction.
It is this last function that the Ministry has now formalized with the passing of Educational Decree Twenty-three, which creates the new position of 'Hogwarts High Inquisitor.' "This is an exciting new phase in the Minister's plan to get to grips with what some are calling the 'falling standards' at Hogwarts," said Weasley. "The Inquisitor will have powers to inspect her fellow educations and make sure that they are coming up to scratch. Professor Umbridge has been offered this position in addition to her own teaching post, and we are delighted to say that she has accepted."
"What the hell is an Educational Decree?" Harry demanded, looking at the others.
"An excuse for the Ministry to control Hogwarts," Theo answered. He sighed and looked up at the staff table, the others following. Professor Umbridge was sitting in her chair, her toad face smiling widely as she ate. The other Professors were hunched together reading their newspapers, some giving Umbridge looks before whispering to each other. "I expect the Gryffindors to do something stupid," Theo continued. "Granger certainly looks upset enough."
Harry glanced over at his old friends to see both Weasley and Granger muttering to each other very quickly. He felt a sad, longing pull before pushing the feeling away. He had better friends now, friends who wouldn't out him like Ron or push him away like Hermione. "They probably are," Harry said, getting their attention. "Hermione will most likely make up some plan to 'fight against' this, without any real change. Maybe just so that she and others can pass their O.W.L.s. Ron will go along with what she says and does, reluctantly at first before going all in on it."
"So a huge headache for us, perfect," Draco muttered. "Harry, how did you ever fall for them?"
"I had no word," Harry shrugged. "Is it such a surprise that I never once had any say in my actions? The only thing I've done that was fully my actions was saving my godfather."
"So that's how Black escaped, you meddled in Ministry business," Theo said.
"What a rebel you are, Harry," Daphnis laughed. He looked over at the Gryffindors and thought for a moment, "What do you think they would have you do?" he asked.
"Not sure, probably something against Umbridge," Harry said, frowning. He was silent for a moment, deep in thought. "Like I said, it might be a way so everyone, well everything they care about, pass their O.W.L.s for Defense. They would look at me because I'm the best and try to convince me to teach them, and perhaps a few friends."
"And if you say no?" Draco asked.
"Guilt or keep pressuring me until I say yes," Harry said without a thought. He frowned and he felt a weight slide off his shoulders he didn't know he was carrying as he realized, "They were really bad friends, weren't they?"
"By the dark, the boy can see!" Pansy declared. "Anyway, we should be on our way to class. We do not want to be late, especially if Umbridge is now 'observing' them."
Thankfully she was not at History of Magic, however as Harry, Blaise, and Pansy made their way into the stuffy room at the top of the Astronomy Tower for Divination, they found to their horror, Professor Umbridge sitting in an armchair with a clipboard on her lap. Professor Trelawney did her best to teach under Umbridge's gaze, and the Slytherins actually felt bad for her. They were supposed to work on their dreams but Trelawney was a stumbling, stuttering mess as Umbridge watched her. During the middle of the period, Umbridge interviewed Professor Trelawney about her past, causing everyone to stop as she demanded a prophecy from Trelawney then and there. Trelawney couldn't give a prophecy and Umbridge began writing on her clipboard, giving that sickening sweet smile that Harry wanted to wipe off.
When the bell rang, Umbridge was the first to leave, and she was found humming to herself and smiling in her classroom as the Gryffindors and Slytherins arrived. Harry somehow was able to keep his temper around her, it helped that Draco kept pinching his thigh whenever he started to get annoyed. Harry couldn't help but think of the Ministry whenever he saw Umbridge. He didn't like Trelawney, but the disgusting glee Umbridge took in tearing Professor Trelawney's profession apart made him sick. She and the Ministry really did want to ruin Hogwarts by any means necessary it seemed, and Harry's stomach rolled as he did his best to control his anger at the vile woman, even when she got into a debate with Granger.
It was strange seeing Granger from a different perspective. She argued against Professor Umbridge about the use of the book, which of course she already read, and while Harry agreed with her that the book was useless, he couldn't help but feel annoyed by Granger and the Gryffindors at this action. Didn't they know that it was useless? What was Granger hoping to change by arguing with Umbridge in her classroom? What were the Gryffindors hoping to change by getting riled up and arguing with Umbridge about their previous professors for the subject? Harry just thought it was all useless.
By the end of it all, Granger lost points and Weasley somehow found Harry, glaring angrily at him as they left. Why is he angry at me? It's not my fault Hermione can't keep her mouth shut at times, Harry thought bitterly, and for once he didn't feel bad about it.
Harry found Umbridge again the next morning in Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall mostly ignored the toad, snapping at her for her constant interruption when he was trying to teach. Umbridge stayed in her seat in the corner but wrote furiously. When the bell ended, the Slytherins left and Blaise gave a loud cry and, to everyone's surprise, lifted Neville Longbottom in front of everyone and spun him around before hugging him. "My baby doll! How I missed you!" Blaise cried out. "I forgot you have Transfiguration now!"
"Hi Blaise," Neville said, blushing deeply but smiling. He looked over his shoulder to the other Hufflepuffs who were all just smirking and snickering at their display.
"Go on lovebirds, I was enjoying the show!" Justin Finch-Fletchey said, grinning widely. Neville blushed but returned the smile as Blaise chuckled. He pulled Neville close, hugging him warmly as he looked at the Hufflepuffs. "This one is my badger, boys, and girls," he said proudly. "Mess with him and you mess with me! Also hands off," he winked.
Justin and Ernie MacMillian quickly raised their hands as the girls all giggled. Neville's blush grew and whispered, "Blaise!"
"Sorry, we Slytherins are possessive," Blaise said as an explanation.
"And late to your next class. Now kindly let go of Mr. Longbottom, Mr. Zabini. You may resume your grandstanding devotion after class hours," Professor McGonagall said, suddenly appearing behind them. Thankfully, Professor Umbridge was nowhere in sight. Professor McGonagall looked at the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws who were arriving before looking down at Harry. "When you have the time, Mr. Potter, I would like to have a word with you. You remember where my office is, I presume?"
"Er, yes Professor," Harry said.
"Then I will see you at five tonight. Now get to class," Professor McGonagall said.
Harry wondered what Professor McGonagall wanted the rest of the day. Even during Care of Magical Creatures, which Professor Umbridge was observing. During the lesson, she approached Draco, asking him questions that seemed targeted to get Hagrid or Dumbledore in trouble. Harry stopped what he was doing to listen in. "Now, Mr. Malfoy, I am correct to assume that it was you who was injured during this class, yes?"
"Yes," Draco answered slowly. "My arm was slashed by a hippogriff."
"A hippogriff?" Professor Umbridge said, scribbling frantically.
"Yes, I did not fully listen to instructions and it reacted badly," Draco explained, glancing at Harry, who found himself speechless but offered a small smile.
"I see," Umbridge said, sounding disappointed. "Well, thank you very much, Professor Grubbly-Plank, I think that's all I need here. You will be receiving the results of your inspection within ten days."
"Jolly good," Professor Grubbly-Plank said, and Umbridge set off back across the lawn to the castle.
Harry moved closer to Draco and whispered, "You finally admit to not listening?"
"I always listen, Harry," Draco shot back. "Even when I know better than everyone. Besides, it got what I wanted." He added with a smirk.
"Hagrid in trouble?" Harry asked heatedly.
"Among other things."
Draco refused to elaborate, and Harry had to push it out of his mind as he made his way to Professor McGonagall's office. He knocked and came in when Professor McGonagall told him to enter. "You are on time, for once," Professor McGonagall said. "Have a seat, Mr. Potter."
"Am I in trouble, Professor?" Harry asked.
"Have you done anything recently to get in trouble, Potter?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"No," Harry said carefully.
"Then we will keep it this way," Professor McGonagall said. Harry moved to sit down, and she continued, "No, Mr. Potter, I wanted to check up on you. It has been nearly two months since your resorting, and I wish to see how you are faring."
"O-Oh, uh good, I suppose. I made friends in my new House, but Ron and Hermione don't talk to me now," Harry admitted.
"Is this because of your resorting or your previous relationship with Mr. Diggory?" Professor McGonagall asked. "Do pick up your jaw from the floor, Mr. Potter, believe it or not, I am not the oblivious professor many seem to believe I am. We do keep up with rumors happening in the castle, especially when they cause harm to others. It was Mr. Weasley who have started this, correct?"
"Yes ma'am," Harry said, "I've told Ron and Hermione about Cedric and me over the summer, and I thought that they took it well. I guess they did not."
"Evidently not," Professor McGonagall said, sounding disappointed, but not at Harry. "Moving on, I wish to thank you for your actions regarding Mr. Greengrass. I am happy to see that some of my students, even if they have been resorted, remember the qualities that Godric Gryffindor valued most above all. I will award you ten points for showing bravery and standing with your friend against an injustice."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry gasped.
"With all of this, I feel it is unnecessary to warn you about your behavior in Professor Umbridge's class," Professor McGonagall went on.
"I know," Harry said. "My friends told me."
"Then I am happy that they are listening at least," Professor McGonagall said. "About Quidditch… now that you are no longer on the Gryffindor Team, while it is a great loss, I do hope to see you at the games, even if you are cheering for the enemy," she finished lightly.
Harry smiled and said, "Don't worry Professor, I will be at every Slytherin game. You cannot keep me away from Quidditch, you know me."
"Unfortunately, I know very much what you are capable of," Professor McGonagall muttered. "At least try to give Gryffindor a fighting chance. I do not wish to hand the cup to Severus so easily."
"I'll do my best," Harry said, his cheeks turning pink.
Professor McGonagall gave a tight smile before dismissing Harry. "That is all, and remember if you need anything, you know where my office is."
Harry wasn't surprised to see Draco waiting for him outside. "What did she want?" he asked.
"To just check up on me," Harry said. "She must have thought you all would have tried to kill me by now."
"Wouldn't say I ever not dreamed of it now and again," Draco muttered.
"Aww, I knew I was in your dreams, Malfoy," Harry said with a smirk.
"Shut up you prat!" Malfoy sputtered.
"Prat? Such a common word for the upstanding Malfoy, I must be rubbing off on you," Harry said. He figured if he was fucked with his developing feelings for an annoying blond, he might as well try to have fun with it. Besides, it was too easy to get a reaction from the taller teen.
"Whatever," Draco huffed and walked ahead of Harry, who just smiled victoriously.
Two weeks after his visit with Professor McGonagall, Harry was with his friends in the common room when Blaise walked in looking worried. "Hey, listen to this," he said as he took his usual seat. "I was just with my Nev when he told me something weird, apparently Weasley and Granger are going to have a meeting at the Hog's Head."
"What? When?" Draco asked.
"Tomorrow during the Hogsmeade visit," Blaise answered.
"What's the Hog's Head?" Harry asked, "I never heard of it."
"It's very off the trail, apparently it is another pub but very beaten down," Blaise answered. "Nev and I never heard of it either."
"What's the meeting for?" Draco asked.
"From what I gather, Weasley and Granger are sick of Umbridge but are acting like they are the pioneers of acting like this. They thought to form this sort of study club for Defense since Umbridge refuses to teach us anything," Blaise explained. "From the rumors, they're apparently inviting students from all the Houses."
"Pity we must have lost our invitation in the mail," Draco said sarcastically. Harry hummed in agreement and couldn't help but feel hurt that Weasley and Granger did not even think about him in this plan. "Anyway, it's a flawed plan to begin with, after all, who would want to be taught by Weasley and Granger?"
"I'm not sure, but the Gryffindors are all for the plan, acting as what they can call subtle about it. Nev told me that Thomas was talking to him about it in an open corridor of all things!" Blaise said.
"And they think to have this in the Hog's Head? Where it will be easier to be overheard and think something suspicious is up?" Theo asked. "Honestly, if I were they, I would have this secret meeting at the Three Broomsticks. Students go there all the time, so an influx wouldn't be suspicious, and since it is always crowded it will be hard to listen into."
"That is Granger for you," Pansy said, "She's all book smart, but in common sense, she is a moron. Sorry, Harry," she added as an afterthought.
"No worries, I was thinking the same thing," Harry said. He sighed and said, "At least I was right. They really are trying to do something like having this group to 'better prepare themselves' or something. I think if I was still in Gryffindor, I would be asked to actually teach the group."
"Would you?" Daphnis asked.
"In the end, probably. Ron and Hermione have a history of making me do stuff they want," Harry sighed.
"I have to admit though, it is a good idea, studying Defense by ourselves since Dolores Umbridge is doing nothing," Daphnis continued. "If the Gryffindors are thinking of spearheading a group 'for unity' without including us, why not study ourselves?"
"You mean like copy the Gryffindors?" Draco asked, scrunching his nose up at the idea. "Disgusting."
"We are not copying them, we are simply… improving," Daphnis chuckled. "It'll be open to all of Slytherin, naturally, and be in a place only we would know about." He looked towards Harry and said, "It would be effective if you were the one who led the teaching, because of your natural skill in the area and background, however, if you are not up to it, we can all take turns."
"Would they even want to be taught by me?" Harry asked, "The Daily Prophet and the Ministry are both still painting me as a madman, as well as the fact that I used to be a Gryffindor."
"'Used to be' being the key phrase," Daphnis answered with an easy smile. "As for the Ministry and Daily Prophet…" he looked around and saw a first year. "You, girl, over here!" he commanded. The first year jumped and ran over to them. "What is your name and your family's opinion on the Ministry of Magic?"
"Oh uh Sabrina Yaxley and my parents hate the Ministry but told me to keep quiet about it until I'm in the Slytherin Common room," she answered.
"There's your answer, Potter," Daphnis said, turning back to Harry. He dismissed the first-year who ran back to her friends. "The Ministry has a lot of enemies in Slytherin. Enemies they believe are allies. It will not only endear you to them if they hear how the 'Great Harry Potter' is secretly teaching them defense, but it will also allow Theo and me to pass our O.W.L.s."
Harry gave Daphnis a sharp look, "You want me to teach just so you can pass your O.W.L.s."
"Partially, but unlike Granger, I am open about this fact, but mostly it is because I am disgusted at what that disgusting woman is doing to our education, and anything that goes against the Ministry is a good action on my account," Daphnis answered.
Harry just hummed and nodded as he thought of the answer. To be honest, he was open to the idea. Just teaching the Slytherins, who already accepted him as their own after the Seeker tryout. This could be another way to get even more friendly with them, which Harry wanted. Sticking it to Umbridge and the Ministry was just a nice aftereffect too. Daphnis was also thankfully blunt about his request and reasons, something he never expected from a Slytherin until he was sorted in the house of snakes. He licked his lips and started to really think about the request. If he taught the Slytherins, it needed to be someplace that they could easily get into and nobody else could follow. The classrooms weren't an option immediately, anyone can just walk in, and he had a feeling it would be too dangerous and suspicious of Slytherins all going into the Forbidden Forest regularly. He looked around the common room, staring at the decoration, and quite suddenly he knew the perfect place to hold these lessons.
"I'll do it," Harry said. "I'll teach the Slytherins Defense, and I know the perfect place to do it in, I only hope that there's a closer entrance."
"Really? What place?" Daphnis asked curiously.
"The Chamber of Secrets."